Basket-making machine.



No. 7l6,582. Patented Dec. 23, I902.

W. C. SCHAEFER.

BASKET MAKING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 2B, 1902.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 7|6,582. Patented Dec. 23, |902.

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BASKET MAKING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 28, 1902.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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William C. Schaefer A4 1 MM lTE p STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. SOHAEFER, OF MENOMONIE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNQR TO COFFINS BOX it LUMBER CO., A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

BASKET-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,582, dated December 23, 1902.

Application filed June 28,1902- To all whom, it nuty concern:

Be it known thatl, WILLIAM C. SCHAEFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Menomonie, in the county of Dunn and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Basket-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for mak- IO ing circular basket-covers; and the object of the improvement is the organization of a machine for forming such cover of a hoop and slats.

My improved machine comprises mechan- I5 ism for forming the hoop, mechanism for supporting a series of slats in parallel horizontal position to receive the hoop, mechanism for presenting the slats to the hoop, mechanism for revolving the hoop and slats, mechanism for driving staples to attach the hoop to the slats, and mechanism for sawing OR the protruding ends of the slats after the hoop and slats are joined by the staples.

My improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan View, and Fig. 3 a side elevation, of the hoop forming the slat-supporting and the slat-trimming devices. Fig. 4 is a 0 top view of the slat-support, and Fig. 5 shows a finished basket-cover.

In the drawings, 1 designates the base, 2 the front, and 3 the rear, posts of the main frame. 4 is a platform or table on the posts,

5 and 5 is a superposed frame for supporting the hook forming and stapling devices. A vertical shaft 6 for supporting and rotating the slat-carrier 7 has its lower bearing in a box 8 on the base 1, through which it extends, and its upper bearing in a box 9 on an arm 10, that projects forward from a post 2. A bevel gear-wheel 11, mounted on the box 9, serves to rotate the shaft by the engagement of an interior key in a longitudinal slot 5 12 in the shaft, whereby the shaft is adapted to be raised and lowered without interfering with its capability of rotation, and the bevelgear 11 is rotated by a corresponding gearwheel 13 on the end of a horizontal shaft 14.

The shaft 6 is raised, when desired, by pressure upon a foot-lever 15, that is fulcrumed Serial No. 113,613. (No model.)

on a standard 16 and has forked arms 17 that are pivotally connected to a collar 18, secured on the shaft immediately above the journalbox 8. Upon release of the foot-lever the shaft will gravitate to initial position.

.Intermittent rotation of the shaft 6 is pro duced by means of the shaft 14, which has on its rear end a ratchet-wheel 19, that is engaged by a pawl 20 on a carrier 21, that depends and swings from the shaft 14:, the carrier 21 being connected by a pitman 22 to the wrist 23 on a crank-disk 24. This crank is on the main driving-shaft 25, which is driven' by a belt on the pulley 26, and the rotation of the driving-shaft will obviously cause a step-by-step movement of the ratchet-andpawl devices and a consequent intermittent rotation of the shaft 14:. The pulley 26 is loose on the driving-shaft, and a clutch 27 is provided for operatively connecting it to the shaft. The clutch is operated by a foot-1ever 28, which is fulcrumed on a post above the machine-base, the lever being connected with the clutch by suitable clutch-shifting devices. Pressure on the foot lever will cause engagement of the clutch with the pulley to produce rotation of the shaft, and a spring (not shown) may be provided for raising the lever to release the clutch engagement when the foot pressure ceases. These devices constitute the means for producing intermittent rotation of the slat-carrier 7.

For operating the hoop-forming and stapling devices there is provided a vertical shaft 29, having hearings in boxes 30 on the lower and upper frame members, and a horizontal shaft 31, mounted in boxes 32 on the upper frame, the lower end of the shaft 29 being op- 0 eratively connected to the shaft 14: by bevelgears 33 and its upper end connected to the shaft 31 by like gears 34., and the front end of the shaft 31 and the upper end of the spindie 35 are operatively connected by bevel- 5 gears 36. The spindle is journaled in boxes 37 at the front of the upper frame 5. By this arrangement intermittent rotary motion corresponding to and coincident with rotary movement of the shaft 14 may be imparted to the spindle.

On the lower end of the spindle 35 is secured the hoop-holder consisting of a disk 38, arranged in horizontal position and having a flange 39, projecting horizontally beyond the circular vertical flange or portion 40. At one edge of the disk is secured a catch 41, having a downturned portion that overhangs the flange for engaging the hoop. A hoop 42 may be bent around the circular flange 40- and its taperingends 43 passed under the catch, and thereby held in place on the periphery of the disk 38 until the stapling devices have secured it to the slats. To provide space for the staple and plunger to pass below the disk 38, the latter is provided with recesses 44 in its periphery corresponding with the number of staples to be driven at each revolution of the disk.

An ordinary staple forming and driving mechanism (indicated at 45) is provided on the upper frame, and it is operated by means of a pitman 46, connected to an eccentric 47 on the main shaft 25. The arrangement of the devices illustrated in the drawings provides for the operation of the staple-plunger to drive a staple at each rotation of the driving-shaft, and the ratchet-and-pawl and gearing devices are so proportioned and adjusted that each rotation of that shaft will produce one-fourteenth of a rotation of the shaft 6 and spindle 35 and the slat-support and hoopholder they respectively carry, and therefore the slats and hoop will be so presented as to receive fourteen staples driven at equal intervals. It is obvious that the apportionment of the movements of the devices can be so varied as to cause a greater or less number of staples to be driven at each revolution of the slat and hoop holders.

The general construction and mode of operation of the mechanisms above described are similar to those set forth in my Patent No. 636,697, of November 7, 1899.

The slat-support 7 is provided with a series of transverse ribs or upward projections 48 for slightly separating the slats and keeping them parallel with one another. The arrangement shown in the drawings is intended for the use of five slats, staves, or Wooden pieces 49; but obviously the number of ribs 48 may be varied to enable a greater or less number of slats to be used.

A circular groove for receiving the staplepoints to turn and clench them may be provided near the edge of the disk 7; but in that case the saw 50 for trimming off the ends of the slats must be set to operate at a safe distance outside the hoop, whereby projecting ends of the slats will be left that may be of objectionable length. It is preferable to employ an anvil independent of the disk 7 and to have thelatter of less diameter than the flange 40 of the disk 38. Such separate anvil is shown at 51,.and it is supported on a reciprocating horizontal bar 52, that slides in a groove 53 in the table or plate 4. The bar may be reciprocated by a hand-lever 54 in direction away from the slat-carrier, and it may be provided with a spring 55, tending to press it toward the slat-carrier. A locking-catch 56 serves to hold the bar in place when thrown back by the operation of the lever 54.

A pressure-roller 57 is provided at one side of and near the anvil 51 for holding the hoop to contact with the disk flange 40. For convenience this roller may be carried by an arm 58 on the bar 52, a sufficient space being provided between the bar and the arm to permit the ends of the slats to pass when the disk 7 is being revolved.

The saw 50 is on a swinging arbor 59, that is journaled in a pivoted box 60 on a post 3 and in a vertically-sliding box 61 on a post 2 and is operated by a belt on the pulley 62. On the arbor, near the saw, is a grooved col lar 63, having an encircling strap 64, to which are pi voted the forks of a vertical rod 65. The rod slides in a guide 66 on the frame extension 10, and its lower end is pivoted to an inward arm 67, formed on a sleeve 68 on the upright shaft 6 immediately above the collar 18, that is engaged to lift that shaft. By this arrangement the saw is raised and lowered in unison with the slat-support 7, and its position relative to the latter is such that it will trim off the projecting portions of the slats close to the hoop when the disk 7 is revolved.

To lessen the labor of operating the footlever 15 to lift the slat supporting and sawing devices, a counterweight 69 is connected by a cord 70 to the arm 67 and runs over a pulley 71, hung on the frame member 10; but the counterweight is not sufficient to interfere with the gravitation of the slat supporting and. sawing devices when there is no pressure on the foot-lever.

In operation, a hoop having been placed around the disk flange 40 and a set of slats having been laid on the support 7, the operator presses down the foot-lever 15 to raise the slats to contact with the hoop from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. He next releases the lever 54 to permit the spring 55 to press the roller 57 against the hoop and to move the anvil 51 to proper position to receive the staple-points, and he then depresses the clutch-lever 28 to start the machinery and cause the intermittent revolution of the disks 7 and 38 in the direction of the arrow 2. During the intervals of rest of those parts the staples are driven and clenched, and thereafter, while the disks revolve, as the ends of the slats come in contact with the saw they are trimmed ofi.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a machine for making circular basketcovers, a holder for a hoop, a holder for the cover material adapted to hold the material flat on a horizontal plane, means for reciprocating the latter holder to bring the cover material to contact with the hoop, means for concurrently revolving said holders step by step, mechanism for driving staples at proper intervals to join the hoop to the cover material, and a saw arranged and operated to trim the cover material to circular shape while it is being so revolved, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for making circular basketcovers, a hoop-holder, a disk provided with means for holding the cover material flat on a horizontal plane, means for reciprocating said disk to bring the cover material to contact with the hoop, means for concurrently revolving said holder step by step, mechanism for driving staples at proper intervals to join the hoop to the cover material, and a saw arranged and operated to trim the cover material to circular shape While it is being so revolved, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for making circular basketcovers, a hoop-holder, a disk provided with means for holding aseries of cover-slats parallel on a plane, means for reciprocating the disk toward the hoop-holder to bring the hoop and slats to contact, means for revolving the hoop and slats concurrently step by step, and means for driving staples at proper intervals to join the hoop to the slats, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for making circularbasketcovers, a hoop-holder, a disk provided with means for holding a series of cover-slats on a plane, means for reciprocating said disk toward the hoop-holder to bring the hoop and slats to contact, means for revolving the hoop and slats concurrently step by step, means for driving staples at proper intervals to join the hoops and slats, and a sawing mechanism for trimming off the projecting portions of the slats as they are revolved by their holder, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for making circular basketcovers, a hoop-holder, a disk provided with means for holding a series of cover-slats in parallel horizontal arrangement, means for reciprocating said disk to clamp the slats against the hoop, means for revolving the hoop and slats concurrentlystepby step, and a mechanism for driving staples into or astride the hoop and through the slats, substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine for making circular basketcovers, a hoop-holder, a disk provided with means for holding a series of cover-slats in parallel horizontal arrangement, means for reciprocating said disk to clamp the slats against the hoop, means for revolving the hoop and slats concurrently step by step, a

mechanism for driving staples into or astride the hoop and through the slats, and an anvil for receiving the staple-points to clench them, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for making circular basketcovers, a hoop-holder, a disk provided with means for holding a series of cover-slats in parallel horizontal arrangement, means for reciprocating said disk to clamp the slats against the hoop, means for revolving the hoop and slats concurrently step by step,a mechanism for driving staples into or astride the hoop andthrough the slats,an anvil for receiving the staple-points to clench them, and controllabledevices for moving the anvil-to and from operative position, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine for making circular basketcovers, a holder for a hoop, a holder for the cover material adapted to hold the material flat on a horizontal plane, means for reciprocating the latter holder to bring the cover material to contact with the hoop, means for concurrently revolving said holders step by step, a pressure-roller arranged to bear against the face of the hoop to hold it in place, an anvil for receiving the staple-points to clench them, means for moving the roller and anvil to and from operative positions, and means for driving staples at proper intervals to join the hoop to the cover material, substantially as set forth.

9. In a machine for making circular basketcovers, a hoop-holder, a disk provided with means for holding a series of cover-slats on a plane, means for reciprocating said disk toward the hoop-holder to bring the hoop and slats to contact, means for revolving the hoop and slats concurrently step by step, means for driving staples at proper intervals to join the hoop and slats, a sawing mechanism for trimming off the projecting portions of the slats as they are revolved by their holder, and devices for moving the saw to and from operative position, substantially as set forth.

10. In a machine for making circular basket-covers, a holder for a hoop, a holder for the cover material adapted to hold the material flat on a horizontal plane, means for reciprocating the latter holder to bring the cover material to contact with the hoop, means for concurrently revolving said holders step by step, a pressure-roller arranged to bear against the face of the hoop to hold it in place, an anvil for receiving the staplepoints to clench them, means for moving the roller and anvil to and from operative positions, means for driving staples at proper intervals to join the hoop to the cover material, and a sawing mechanism for trimming offthe projecting portions of the slats as they are revolved by their holder, substantially as set forth.

11. In a machine for making circular basket-covers, a hoop-holder, a disk provided with means for holdinga series of cover-slats on a plane, means for reciprocating said disk toward the hoop-holder to bring the hoop and slats to contact, means for revolving the hoop and slats concurrentlystep by step, means for driving staples at proper intervals to join the hoop and slats, a sawing mechanismfor trimming off the projecting portions of the slats as they are revolved by their holder, and means for moving the saw to operative position concurrently with the movement of the slats to contact withfithe hoop, substantially as set forth. i

12. In a machine for making circular hasof the slats as they are revolved by their holder, and means for moving the saw to operative position concurrently with the movement of the slats to contact with the hoop, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 10th day of June, 1902.

W. O. SOI-IAEFER.

W'itnesses:

L. BROOKS, ED BLACK. 

